Ireland Head Coach Mark Aston today announced his 24-man squad for Rugby League World Cup 2013.

The final squad includes a total of 10 Super League players and four players from Australia’s NRL competition with the remaining players coming from the Kingstone Press Championship and one from the NSW Cup in the form of Joshua Toole.

Wingers Pat Richards of Wigan Warriors and Damien Blanch of Ctalan Dragons have been included in the squad alongside the Grix Brothers, Simon (Warrington Wolves) and Scott (Huddersfield Giants), who return to the squad for the first time since 2010.

From the NRL Brett White (Canberra Raiders), Rory Kostjasyn (North Queensland Cowboys), James Hasson (Manly Sea Eagles) and Api Pewhairangi (Parramatta Eels) have all been included in Aston’s final 24-man squad.

In total nine players who competed for Ireland in the 2008 World Cup have been included and will be looking to form a rare club of players who have represented Ireland in two Rugby League World Cups.

The squad continues to be led by Featherstone Rovers scrum-half Liam Finn who was first chosen as captain by Mark Aston in 2012.

Mark Aston said: “I am really pleased with the squad we've named, it is a combination of experience and younger up-and-coming players from both hemispheres.

“I am confident that we are fully equipped to be competitive in what is a really tough group and we are really looking forward to the challenge ahead against three of the best teams in the world.”

Ireland kick off their RLWC2013 campaign against Fiji in Rochdale on Monday October 28. They then travel to Huddersfield for a clash against England on Saturday November 2 before taking on Australia in their final group match in Limerick on Saturday November 9.